Abstract 13995: Remote, Smart Device Based Cardiac Rehabilitation After Myocardial Infarction - Smart Rehab Study

Abstract

Introduction: After myocardial infarction (MI), increasing functional capacity is an important goal of cardiac rehabilitation, that improves prognosis. However, standard cardiac rehabilitation is not accessible to many patients. Telemedicine programs are emerging as promising alternatives to in-person programs, but evidence confirming its benefits is lacking. Hypothesis: Smart device based remote cardiac rehabilitation can improve functional capacity assessed by VO2peak after MI. Methods: Patients were offered participation at the time of hospitalization for MI. One month after MI, patients underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6-minute walking test (6MWT) and were randomized 1:1. In the intervention group, patients received a smart watch to track the recommended number of steps, that was derived from the 6MWT. Adherence to the recommendations was telemonitored by a study nurse, with an over the phone motivation talk if compliance was unsatisfactory. In the control group, patients were recommended 150 minutes/week of moderate intensity exercise. Exercise stress tests were repeated after 3 months. Results: In total, 59 patients (mean age 51.5±10.4 years, 10.2% women, 67.8% STEMI, 96.6% PCI, mean discharge EF 48±10%) were included in the study. At baseline, there was no difference in clinical characteristics and functional capacity between the intervention (n=29) and control (n=30) groups. After 3 months of the intervention, VO2peak improved in the intervention arm with between group difference of 1.56 ml/kg/min (95%CI 0.06-3.05, p=0.041), with no difference in 6-minute walking distance (p=0.11). The effect of intervention differed by baseline functional capacity (p for interaction <0.01). Among patients with VO2peak at baseline ≤95% predicted, the between-group VO2peak difference after 3 months was 2.46 ml/kg/min (95% CI 0.78-4.13, p=0.005), and also oxygen uptake efficiency slope (between group difference 235, 95% CI 43-428, p=0.02) and 6-minute walking distance improved (between group difference 60m, 95% CI 1.5-119, p=0.045). Conclusions: Smart device based remote cardiac rehabilitation improves functional capacity after myocardial infarction, particularly in those with decreased functional capacity. NCT03926312